Archive for June, 2011
When I spot someone like George on the streets of Chicago, it validates my entire existence. Immediately before running into George on Rush Street I had spent around 40 minutes style hunting with no success. The fact is that since I practice authentic street-style there are no guarantees. I am completely at the mercy of the universe and chance. So when someone like George comes walking towards me, after lots of time wasted, my heart starts to sing. It’s grueling physical labor to be a street-style photographer in Chicago. I spend an average of five to six hours outside walking around, and hike anywhere between 3 miles (short day) to 8 miles (long day) everyday. I have the calves to prove it. It takes that much time to find people like George, who are scattered like diamonds in the rough amongst the sea of sameness.
George is a very talented artist and illustrator based in Chicago. I thought at first he was a stylist, but his superb sartorial sensibility comes from his training as a graphic designer.
To see close-up photos of George, please visit my Tumblr.
Below is a YouTube clip from the episode with Juergen Teller. He discusses his evolution into a fashion photographer and talks about shooting Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, and Courtney Love.
Anyone who reads this blog knows that I have a serious love affair with SUNO. I wore a SUNO dress to my one year anniversary party at Beauty Bar, which was given to me by a very special friend. For the search engine commercial (drops June 28th!) I wore a SUNO shirt, which can also be seen in this personal style post. For Ikram’s 10th anniversary party I wore a different SUNO dress from Erin Beatty‘s first collection for the brand. I know you get it – I love SUNO. Part of the reason I adore SUNO is because I have a close emotional connection to Kenya after taking a safari there with my mom in 2009, but I’ve always adored the label’s quirky off-beat prints and spunky cuts. Although I did have to be coaxed into actually wearing the label’s notoriously short mini-dresses.
To purchase these shoes on ShopBop, click here.
The SUNO x Loeffler Randall “Erin” platforms are fabulous and retain the SUNO brand DNA while continuing its evolution. As the house moves away from its African roots towards a less restricted identity, it will be interesting to see how that growth takes place. If these shoes give any indication, SUNO will maintain the playfulness that earned the line the love of so many women like myself. Although the fabric is not the African kanga cloth that came to define the line, it captures the energy and spirit of the previous collections with its zesty lemon color and bold circular prints.
Now, if only I hadn’t taken my last paycheck to ikram and bought the last two SUNO pieces remaining in my size (a small tank top and a pair of shorts), these shoes would be mine. Hence they are the subject of a wish list and not a personal style post!
The transient nature of fashion is a double-edged sword – there is always something fabulous to look forward to but as we move forward through time trends we love are abandoned or change. Since SUNO will no longer be producing collections using the African fabrics I adore, I had to get my hands on what pieces were left. Look for an upcoming personal style post featuring my latest purchase next week!
To visit SUNO’s website, click here.
